Quad Alphas' Silenced Omega

2 Happy Birthday to Me

POV Ophelia

I stared at myself in the mirror as I realized I was finally sixteen. The day I have been waiting for since I was young. I will finally get to openly shift into my wolf, instead of just linking others or talking with her in my mind. Hiding her away like she was some sort of evil little secret.

Like my wolf always told me, I am special. Usually, only alphas get the ability to link and connect with their wolves early in life. I had a connection with mine longer than I could remember. I had my first shift at four and when I tried to tell someone, my family shoved me off and said I had to be lying. Like they’ve always said, there is nothing special about me. It makes sense though. Who knows what my family would do if they actually believed me that day. If they knew I had my wolf and I was able to mind link people. Knowing them, they would have abused my power anyway. Some things really do happen for a reason.

“That’s why we both agreed to hide. No matter how much I hated it.” My wolf grumbled.

“Not for much longer though. When midnight comes, we can finally show our fur. Who knows, I might even find our mate.” It’s not impossible, but usually you get the blessing of a mate from the goddess when you turn eighteen so many don’t hold their breath this early. Due to the horrible life I’ve lived for over a decade, I really hoped I’d be one of the lucky ones to find my fated soul sooner rather than later. Then, I could finally be rid of this horrible place and happy for the first time...well...ever.

I glanced at my dark blue jeans paired with black combat boots and a light green t-shirt. “We should dress nicer today. It’s an important day!” My wolf howled.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “There’s no reason. I’ve always had you with me so there’s nothing new with today’s events. Especially if we really do have to say goodbye to this place.” One can only wish.

My wolf sighed and I winced. “Come on. Give today a chance!”

The only chance I was going to give today was the reality that I can finally leave this place fast enough to be unseen by the guards and my…parents. I'll also be old enough not to be questioned when I arrive at my next destination. If I’m going to be made to clean and cook every day, then I’d rather get to keep my pay instead of watch my sister indulge with my money. Give today a chance?

Pshhh, yeah right.

It’s not like I have something better to wear even if I wanted to. The only reason I even have clothes like these is from the pennies I’m able to hide away whenever I can. I grabbed my duffle bag and continued to wince while my wolf continued to pace. “I’m going to do what we planned. It’s time to leave and find a life away from here. All your pacing is doing is confirming my decision and giving me a headache!” I snapped.

“Alright, but I want to make sure you remember to give it a chance.”

“Give what a chance?!”

“You’ll see!” She hummed excitedly. I really hate when she knows something I don't. Why is it that wolves can hide their thoughts from us but we cannot hide our thoughts from them?

I walked downstairs and the first thing I saw was a huge breakfast and streamers all over the place. I glanced around to figure out why this massive mess was made. “Good. It’s you, Ophelia. Don’t forget to clean all this up before you head to school.” My dad grumbled. “It looks like your mother overdid it for Felicity’s sixteenth birthday breakfast. Oh, and don’t forget, we need you on clean up duty here after you finished with your job at the packhouse. Everything will be perfect for our daughter’s birthday party.”

I looked up at him and sadly, I wasn’t even surprised. Is he serious? Felicity and I were twins. We weren’t identical, but still we were born on the same day for goddess’s sake. How could he look me in the eye and remind me that they blatantly forgot to tell me happy birthday or even give me anything for my birthday when mom is doing all of this for her? No. Not this time. I won't let it get to me. I promised myself not to let these people get to me anymore. No more expectations for something that I never had. And I'll never want. I nodded and went to wait patiently in the living room while I heard Felicity squealing as mom and dad gently woke her to say happy birthday.

I can’t be mad. This is normally a very special day for any wolf. They get their spirit and they can finally become a fully-fledged member of the pack. However, I was not given that luxury. My parents say it’s because I don’t have a wolf and I’m not worth the alpha’s time. For once, I don’t disagree. Even the omegas treat me like garbage. There is no way I’d want to protect a place like this. Unfortunately, that comes with the territory of becoming an adult member. If I have to stay a pup to get out of that, I'd happily oblige.

“What are you still doing here? I don’t want to look at your face on my special day!” Felicity screamed.

I looked up at the gamma family and attempted to speak, but my mother’s hand landed on my cheek faster than I could respond. “I don’t need to see you right now and neither does my sweet daughter. Get out!” She shouted. I bit my lip and nodded while my father smirked from behind the pair of villains.

“Not a word.” He growled in my mind, and I flinched before racing out of the house. I found myself on the path through the forest that takes you the long way to school. Seeing my house in the distance had me sighing in relief. They were right. I didn’t belong there. Not long now before I make sure they will never have to worry about me again.

“Come on. They didn’t mean it.” My wolf whimpered but even she couldn’t believe her words anymore. I know I didn’t.

Staring up at the sun peeking through the foliage above me, I let the wind sing me a lullaby while I enjoyed the sweet scent of chestnut and fir trees. This place…this single dirt path…. It was my only sanctuary on a day-to-day basis, and I relished in it.

Pausing halfway to the school I had zero interest in venturing to today, I tucked myself on a fallen tree and pulled out a pad of paper and a pencil. I’m much too early to arrive on campus now and I feel like nature is calling me to express myself through the sketch of a pencil.

The birds chirped around me while I immersed myself in subtle droplets of water hanging from leaf to leaf or the woodpecker searching for his lunch. Everything came alive while I frantically tried to freeze this memory on paper.

After about an hour of sketching, I lifted my head and sighed. There wasn’t much more time I could delay my arrival to my second level of hell. High School.

I tossed my pad and pencil away in my bag and slung it over my shoulder before grabbing my duffle and walking briskly to the lovely institution of headaches and bullying. Quickly throwing my stuff in my locker, I grabbed the books I needed and raced to class. Making it just in time, I slipped into the corner of the front row and focused on the day ahead.

One period after another and I felt like today was going to go off without a hitch. I didn’t even see my sister in the halls. I don’t know what the moon goddess has in store for me, but I have a feeling that this is my birthday present. Peace and quiet. Finally, the last class had ended and I was busy pushing my things into my locker when I heard a deafening growl behind me and a cackle followed after.

I took a deep breath before turning to see what all the hubbub was about, but I regretted that mistake almost immediately when the smell of sweet lemonade invaded my senses. “You have got to be sh*ting me!” A voice behind me snapped. A voice I knew all too well.

“What? She’s always looked like that.” My sister cackled.

“That’s not it, babe. That thing is my mate.” He growled again and I felt the world freeze in place before it simultaneously felt like someone hit fast forward.

“Mate!” My wolf shouted, confirming what I had dreaded.

“What?!” Felicity shrieked when Joshua and I locked eyes.

“Don’t worry baby. I won’t drop my eighty percent for this weak twenty.” Joshua scoffed and I whimpered. His eyes narrowed at the sound, and he stepped closer to me. “You cannot be serious. You had to know this was coming. How could I accept this when I already have your sexy sister?” I wanted to say something but my sister’s glare behind him locked my words deep in my mind. “No one would ever want you. Especially not me.”

As his words dug into my soul, my wolf howled and clawed at my subconscious like she could change his mind. Ha! The world around me began to move faster and faster, making a huge effort to leave me behind like it always has. As he confirmed that not only my family didn’t want me, but he didn’t want me, I finally thought the words I hoped to keep buried in my deepest thoughts. Am I the problem? Always hurting others purely because my mouth cannot formulate even the smallest of words in a way to appease others? “I, Joshua Howler, Future Beta of the Diablo Pack, reject you, Ophelia Hawthorne omega of the Diablo Pack as my mate and true soul forever and always.”

I couldn’t move.

I couldn’t make a sound. No...no...no! I'm not going to let them get to me! I promised!

A fist slammed on the locker behind me and a tear escaped my eye as a boiling pain riddled through my bones. Making it harder to breathe. “Say it!” He shouted, and I closed my eyes tightly. Why is he being so cruel? He knows I…I…. “I know you’re a d*mn mute, but I know you can mind link me.” He growled, startling me out of my own thoughts.

“Please don’t, Ophelia. He will love us soon enough. I know he can. His wolf is pushing to comfort us.” My wolf begged, but I didn’t want to let this continue on. I cannot be bullied for the rest of my life. He would never be faithful to someone like me. My life would be nothing but torture and pain like it always has been. Nothing but a sea of regret that I’d be trapped with for eternity while everyone around me reminds me of everything I've always done ‘wrong’! “Please….” She whimpered once more but she already knew this was a lost cause just like I did.

“Say it!” He shouted again and now…we had an even bigger audience.

“Ha! There is no way she’d hold back from complying with the future beta.”

“Did she really think he’d accept a mate bond to a freaking useless mute?!”

“This is just embarrassing.”

“Please don’t Ophelia. I’m begging you.” Hearing the others laugh over my wolf’s howls was the last straw.

“I don’t get to choose! I never did. I hate this place, and I will never be stuck here because of a bond neither of us want!” I had to say it. For her sake and for mine. I darted my eyes to the onlookers and landed on the loudest of the naysayers. Joshua’s current girlfriend and my twin. The pride of our family. The gamma’s daughter who wasn’t defective.

“F*cking do it you useless piece of trash! He’s mine!” She shrieked in my mind and the tears continued to fall. Pouring salt on my wounds is her favorite pastime.

“Awwwhh…you think those disgusting tears would even let me think about changing my mind?” Joshua called, starting an increasing sound of laughter around me. D*mn! I didn't mean to cry. I never let it get this bad! I try my hardest to make sure they never see me as weak, but here I am, in tears in front of half the school. “Think twice. I’d rather screw dirt than mess around with you.” If only he knew the feeling was mutual.

Straightening up my body and clearing the tears from my face, I sighed heavily. “Oh right. I forgot you were here. I, Ophelia Hawthorne, o-omega of the Diablo Pack, accept your rejection and sever the bond as Joshua Howler’s mate for now and forever.” I heaved through the link forcing myself to not show these people any more of my weakness. He smiled darkly before shoving me into the linoleum floor.

“Just disappear. You disgust me. No one will miss you. Especially me.” He growled completely unphased that he just ripped my heart out and stomped all over it.

The crowd dispersed and the whispers followed. I may be a mute, but I am not deaf. That didn’t matter to them though. I never mattered to them. I’m only here for the pack to toy with me until I shattered.

Slowly standing to my feet, my wolf continued to thrash at my mind and shout every enraged thought she could muster, but I didn’t care. She already knows I’m immune to her thwarts to push me to be better or to do better. I’m fine as I am. I wish she’d just get over it.

I grabbed my duffle from the now dented locker behind me and smiled at the relief overwhelming my soul. I can leave and I won’t feel sorry about it. No one will come for me and even the beta’s son told me to disappear. What will they tell me if they found me again? They don’t have a leg to stand on. It’s like he gave me the second birthday present I was hoping for.

Freedom.

No more worrying about a mate and being tied to such a horrific group of people. I'll finally be my own person. I slipped the bag over my shoulder and walked out of the school’s hallway, never looking back.

Happy birthday to me.